The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1887-12-30

thousands of dollars that have been ex-
pended in trying TO stop these places
with stones, brush, rails, dirt or any
thing handy, even corn fodder being
used for the purpose. These places are
only worse than the rest on account oi
the water that comes to the surface, OF
so near it as to allow the whole surface
to shake in what we call "quick sand.'
Where the bed of clay that holds this
water, and prevents it from passing
down deeper to rocks below, is its sell
quite thick, it furnishes permanent
obstacle to the building of a substantial
and durable road over it, unless an
artificial channel is given to the water
to supply vent for it, and prevent the
mischief it does. When this clay is
wet enough all the stones placed above
it are easily driven down into it and
lost and the mud comes to the surface
or squeezes out on both sides into the
bitches made for carrying surface water
and chokes them up. Do you want to
see piece of road of this sort? You
need not 60 far from the borough linn
its of Rising Sun, North East or Elkton
to find it.
l have now alluded to one natural
obstacle to any permanent road in some
places and suggested foundation or
remedy, which need not be very expen.
sive and if properly applied may last as
long as any similar work of man, or at
least serve one generation. Where the
road bed to be kept Gear of -"qulck
sand'' is nearly level, the difficulty is
increased, and more tile Of larger cal
liber will have to- be used. They must
be put together so that onl y ,oater will
work into them and deep enough to be
safe from the jar of wheels above them.
Another thing needed in connection
with this, or in most places, without
previous drainage, is more general
use of stone ballast in al3 those places
where the rough stone are convenient
or cheap. With steam power to crush
them they can be applied in sufficient
quantity to make a road bed, dry and
reasonably smooth at all seasons. Our
rocky roads especially need this treat
ment. Earthsswears away too rapidly to
cover their rough projections, where
crushed stone would stay many years.
Remove the "quick sands' from them
and our gravel roads are easily kept
smooth and in repair. Our sandy roads
can be improved by adding clay and
where they are all clay, by adding sand
or gravel. Let thorough underdrain.
ing be tried on short section of our
worst red clay soil and note the result
for three years, then, if it works we'll,
extend it.
All these methods Of "mending" or
"making" roads involve the supervision
of competent head though much or
most of the work may be done by those
living near to il. The owners of mills
near Elkton have been compelled to
make such roads as are suggested, and
have paid half the expenses, l am told
by an ex-commissioner, themselves, the
comfy the rest, and there are other
mill owners who might do as much il
they were allowed to say how their
money was to be used.
GEO. BALDERsToN.
The ho,o to put our roads in good
condition and keep them so as pointed
out by friend Balderston, is the same we
have frequently called public attention
to, but the aeho to do this work is where
failure is found. Farmers have been
set to do it for nearly, if not wholly, d
century, but there is no sign of theil
ever succeeding, The particular farm
ers who have been most anxious to be
appointed do not keep the necessary
roads about their yards and through
their fields in decent order, and theil
plows, cultivators and farm machinery
are seen lying in fence corners and il
the fields where last used, from fall til
spring and spring till fall. While thu
haphazard system which has Away
obtained is kept up such men as these
will be appointed to mend and make
the majority of our roads. They ar,
always hard up and always looking fo
little Office by which to set few dol